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Thursday, November 07, 2013

JSU, fraternity discipline student over racial slur

In light of the current NFL-focused conversation over bullying and 'crossing the line' in speech or texts we saw this. A member of SigEp shouted a racial slur at another fraternity during a football game. Not only has he been disciplined by the school but he is also now a "former" member of SigEp.

A university spokeswoman provided a statement from JSU today that acknowledged the incident, at JSU’s home game Sept. 7 against Jacksonville University, and said the student responsible, then a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, had been disciplined for making “racially offensive comments to another fraternity and its members.”

The university today declined to identify the student or describe the disciplinary action he faces, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects release of students’ educational information.

JSU police Chief Shawn Giddy said today that a police report had been filed in connection with the incident. He said officers investigated and determined that the student had used the slur. Giddy said the victims decided against pressing charges.

JSU’s statement said the student’s actions were the focus of an investigation by JSU this fall, which reviewed the student’s conduct and attempted to determine whether his fraternity had played a role in the incident.

Randy Vice, the adviser for the local fraternity chapter, said in an email that “once the full extent of the behaviors were brought to light, the chapter asked for and received the resignation of the young man responsible.”

Vice also said that the student’s actions were not representative of all members of the fraternity chapter and added that Sigma Phi Epsilon at JSU has included minority members since 1991. Attempts to reach Vice by phone were not successful this evening.

JSU’s statement said the local fraternity issued a public apology concerning the incident, and the group will participate in diversity and cultural sensitivity training.

“The university regrets that one of its students failed to uphold the institution’s high standards of conduct expected of all associated with the institution,” the release from the university states. “The university will use this incident as a learning opportunity to educate all members of the JSU community about the importance of the diversity and respect for the feeling of others in our society.”